Polk Superintendent Expands Upon Her Plans to Improve Schools

Published: Thursday, January 23, 2014 at 11:58 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 23, 2014 at 11:58 p.m.

AUBURNDALE | Polk County Superintendent of Schools Kathryn LeRoy is adding to her list of ideas for improving Polk's public schools, including auditing all noncharter public schools and creating a showcase of special programs that are available.

In a wide-ranging talk, LeRoy, who became superintendent just before the start of the 2013-14 school year, laid out her vision for the future to about 45 people at the Auburndale Chamber of Commerce's monthly meeting Thursday.

As for the audits, Auburndale Central Elementary was the only school of the 58 schools audited that did not receive any comments about problems with its bookkeeping practices involving such areas as fundraisers and staff purchase cards.

Next year, LeRoy said, measures will be put in place to change that.

To get a clearer picture of schools' practices, she said she would like to see all of Polk's schools audited next year — "if the cost is right."

The School District's contract with auditing company McGladrey LLP will expire by next year, and the district will consider bids from a variety of companies. She said a districtwide school audit will be part of the bidding request.

To help schools improve their practices, LeRoy said there should be more than one training session to teach employees financial policies and procedures. Training has been held only once per school year, meaning employees who are hired during the school year don't get the same bookkeeping training.

She also wants to tie the audit results to administrators' evaluations and for the School District's business office to be more proactive in catching schools' mistakes and informing them about the problems.

SCHOOL PROGRAMS

A couple of people at the meeting expressed concerns about the programs offered in Auburndale schools. One man said parents are worried about their kids not getting into the schools that they think offer the best opportunities for their children.

LeRoy responded that she thinks a lot of people perceive a school as being worse than another if it doesn't have the same programs.

"The perception is not reality," she said.

A report from the Brookings Institution that was released in early January gave Polk a C-minus in education choice and ranked it 46th out of 107 districts graded this year.

To combat that, LeRoy said, she aims to have an expo in December or next January that will showcase academies, magnets and charter schools.

That way, students and parents can see what is available. She also wants to simplify the application process for magnet, charter and choice schools. Currently, each program has a different process.

Another member of the audience said he was worried that the smartest kids would create a "brain drain" by leaving Auburndale to attend magnet schools and schools of choice in other cities.

"The first thing I have to do is make sure that Auburndale has those opportunities that are going to keep kids here at the high school," LeRoy said. "And then we won't have a brain drain."

To create those opportunities, she wants to make all programs more accessible to students.

She said she envisions the county divided into quadrants, with each quadrant offering the same range of special programs so that students have easier access to those schools.

The superintendent said she would start with high school programs first.

Officials will have to work out what programs are needed where and whether the School District can afford to transport students, among other things.

"It's a planning process that's going to take a few months," LeRoy said after the meeting. "We're not going to roll out 160 programs in one year, but over time."

<p>AUBURNDALE | Polk County Superintendent of Schools Kathryn LeRoy is adding to her list of ideas for improving Polk's public schools, including auditing all noncharter public schools and creating a showcase of special programs that are available.</p><p>In a wide-ranging talk, LeRoy, who became superintendent just before the start of the 2013-14 school year, laid out her vision for the future to about 45 people at the Auburndale Chamber of Commerce's monthly meeting Thursday.</p><p>As for the audits, Auburndale Central Elementary was the only school of the 58 schools audited that did not receive any comments about problems with its bookkeeping practices involving such areas as fundraisers and staff purchase cards.</p><p>Next year, LeRoy said, measures will be put in place to change that.</p><p>To get a clearer picture of schools' practices, she said she would like to see all of Polk's schools audited next year — "if the cost is right."</p><p>The School District's contract with auditing company McGladrey LLP will expire by next year, and the district will consider bids from a variety of companies. She said a districtwide school audit will be part of the bidding request.</p><p>To help schools improve their practices, LeRoy said there should be more than one training session to teach employees financial policies and procedures. Training has been held only once per school year, meaning employees who are hired during the school year don't get the same bookkeeping training. </p><p>She also wants to tie the audit results to administrators' evaluations and for the School District's business office to be more proactive in catching schools' mistakes and informing them about the problems.</p><p>SCHOOL PROGRAMS</p><p>A couple of people at the meeting expressed concerns about the programs offered in Auburndale schools. One man said parents are worried about their kids not getting into the schools that they think offer the best opportunities for their children.</p><p>LeRoy responded that she thinks a lot of people perceive a school as being worse than another if it doesn't have the same programs.</p><p>"The perception is not reality," she said.</p><p>A report from the Brookings Institution that was released in early January gave Polk a C-minus in education choice and ranked it 46th out of 107 districts graded this year.</p><p>To combat that, LeRoy said, she aims to have an expo in December or next January that will showcase academies, magnets and charter schools.</p><p>That way, students and parents can see what is available. She also wants to simplify the application process for magnet, charter and choice schools. Currently, each program has a different process.</p><p>Another member of the audience said he was worried that the smartest kids would create a "brain drain" by leaving Auburndale to attend magnet schools and schools of choice in other cities.</p><p>"The first thing I have to do is make sure that Auburndale has those opportunities that are going to keep kids here at the high school," LeRoy said. "And then we won't have a brain drain."</p><p>To create those opportunities, she wants to make all programs more accessible to students.</p><p>She said she envisions the county divided into quadrants, with each quadrant offering the same range of special programs so that students have easier access to those schools.</p><p>The superintendent said she would start with high school programs first.</p><p>Officials will have to work out what programs are needed where and whether the School District can afford to transport students, among other things.</p><p>"It's a planning process that's going to take a few months," LeRoy said after the meeting. "We're not going to roll out 160 programs in one year, but over time."</p><p>[ Sara Drumm can be reached at 863-401-6971. ]</p>